INTRODUCTION
Paul who is still on his 2nd missionary journey leaves Athens and moves to Corinth
Corinth was a large wealthy city with lots of trade and business happening
It was a key city where businesses thrived
But in the midst of this wealthiness, was the sin that was in this city
Paul arrives here and sees what an opportunity for the gospel to be preached
He hooks up with a couple named Priscilla & Aquila and he stayed and worked with them as they were both tentmakers
When Silas and Timothy arrive from Macedonia, Paul then devotes himself exclusively to preaching
The Jews oppose his message and Paul makes a declaration that he is no longer ministering to them but going to the gentiles
God then appears to him in a vision and encourages Paul to continue with his ministry in the city
He ministered in Corinth for one and half years before leaving for Syria taking Priscilla & Aquila with him
When they arrive at Ephesus, Paul then leaves the couple there and went to Antioch.
Paul is adamant to see the gospel of Jesus spread throughout the world
In the midst of it he also trains and raises up different leaders
Now we come to Pauls 3rd missionary journey, where he travels from Antioch and goes throughout the region of Galatia & Phrygia
This morning what i want to speak on is: UNDERSTANDING YOUR GIFTS
And with that i want to speak about 2 people: PRISCILLA & AQUILA
As we look as these folk this morning i want to draw out some lessons for us to learn from them
1. PRISCILLA & AQUILA
Who is this couple?
Clearly this is a couple that loved and feared the Lord
They were originally from modern-day Turkey along the coast line of the Black Sea
But apparently they lived in Rome for the most part of their lives
According to scholars, they could have been saved on the day of Pentecost when Peter preached his first sermon and 3000 people were saved
They could have been part of the 3000 that day.
They now return to Corinth as Claudius, who was the emperor of Rome ordered that all Jews leave Rome
Here in Corinth they waste no time in starting work as their profession was tent-making
What made them different?
a. They supported each other
The one thing clear about this couple is that they worked together.
Whenever their names appear, they appear together
This speaks volumes to us, as it shows us that they did everything together and supported each other
You can see that they loved what they did (tent-making) and did it well
It’s amazing to see what an amazing team they formed
They were a couple who knew how to make the most out of life
They complemented each other and benefited from each other’s strengths
This is such an important point to us as married couples- to support and encourage each other in our daily lives
Illustration: if i look at my life, i would never be able to do the things i do if i didn’t have my wife’s backing and vice versa.
We need one another
b. They were hospitable
We see that as Paul entered Corinth, the first people he hooked up with was this couple
He stayed in their home and worked with them – making tents
When they meet Apollos, they also take him into their home for a meal
We see that they were a couple who loved having people in their home
Later on in scripture we see that they even hosted a church in their home
And Paul constantly refers back to this couple, thanking them for their kind hospitality and openness they have shown not only to him, but also the church
This was a gift they possessed and they maximised on it, by having people in their homes
Through this amazing gift, the church grew in numbers and people like Paul & Apollos were blessed through their ministry
c. They were ready to teach
Interesting to see, is that this couple also had a teaching gift
When they met Apollos, they took him to their home and taught him the scriptures
Over the one and half years they were with Paul, they absorbed everything he taught
They devoted themselves to the understanding of the word
Because they were well conversed in the word, they were able to help others like Apollos understand the word better
This couple was willing and able to use their gifts wherever possible for the expansion of the kingdom
APPLICATION
Gifts like hospitality and teaching is a key way to draw folk to the kingdom – its an EVANGELSLIC TOOL
Like this couple they wasted no time in exercising their God given gifts
Because of that many were blessed and grew more in the Lord
What gifts has the Lord blessed you with?
It may be teaching, preaching, hospitality, prophecy, administration etc
Whatever your gifts maybe, are you using it for the glory of God
God was pleased with this couple, because their hearts were set on advancing the kingdom
God wants to use you wherever you are, are you willing to be used by Him?
It’s senseless for us as believers to know our gifts but not exercise them
If you’re unsure of your gifts, there are tools available to help you get an understanding of what they are. Come speak to me
We also have different ministries in our church where you can serve God with your gifting:
• Jolwayo, Special school and Ingeli – Preaching and teaching
• Hospital – gift of healing
• Youth discipleship – teaching and discipleship
• GT’s – encouragement, prayer, prophecy and miracles
• Prayer meeting – intercessory
• Men’s breakfast – encouragement and empowerment
CONCLUSION
God wants to use you with the little that we offer Him
Every gift that the Lord has blessed you with is for the advancement of His Kingdom
Your gift matters to the church of God
Start using your gifts for the glory and honor of our God
• If its hospitality, start inviting people to your home
• Teaching, start getting into ministries where you can teach
• Prophecy, start in your cell groups, or home, or work place and see God increase it
• Prayer, start joining our weekly prayer meeting and see God do wonders
Whatever it may be, let’s offer them up to God for His glorification
